Chucking assembly for winding machines

ABSTRACT

A chucking assembly for supporting yarn carriers in winding machines including an elongate shaft, a tubular housing concentrically mounted on the shaft for rotation relative thereto, a yarn carrier support projecting from the base end of the housing for supporting the base end of a yarn carrier, a tubular chucking slider mounted on the housing for sliding movement longitudinally thereof and having a plurality of radially expandible chucking fingers disposed away from the base end of the housing. The assembly further includes means for sliding the chucking slider relative to the housing and means for radially expanding the chucking fingers into a chucking condition when the chucking slider is slid, so that the fingers will engage and exert a radial pressure against the yarn carrier positioned on the chucking assembly.

United States Patent in] 3,592,401

[72] Inventors Ashley P. Smith; 1,887,790 I 1/1932 Stogner 242/463 UX William L. Wilson; Ralph A. Cancer, all of 1,996,319 4/1935 Blair 242/4673 UX Asheville, N.C. 2,746,689 5/1956 Berkepeis 242/463 1 1 pp 866-500 FOREIGN PATENTS HM 43 019 3/1908 5 d 242 464 451 Patented July 13, 197i [73] Assignee Northrop Carolina, Inc. Primary Examiner-Stanley N. Gilreath Asheville, N.C. Attorney-Farrell, Bell, Seltzer, Park & Gibson A chuclcing assembly for supporting yarn car- MACHINES ners In winding machines including an elongate shaft, a tubulachims, 5 Dnwing Figs 7 lat housing concentrically mounted on the shaft for rotation relative thereto, a yarn carrier support projecting from the [52] US. Cl l. 242/463 base end of the housing for Supporting the base end of a yam [5 l I Int. Cl u B65h 75/30, carrier. a tubular chucking slider mounted on the housing for 79/00 sliding movement longitudinally thereof and having a plurality [50] Search 242/463 of radially expandible chucking fingers disposed away from 721,682 the base and of the housing. The assembly further includes means for sliding the chucking slider relative to the housing [56] Rderenw Ciud and means for radially expanding the chucking fingers into a UNITED STATES PATENTS chucking condition when the chucking slider is slid, so that the |.259.443 3 R yn ld 242/46-3 X fingers will engage and exert a radial pressure against the yarn L728, 7 9/1929 Lewis 242/463 UX carrier positioned on the chucking assembly.

a as j 5 45 M W I a ,as E2 52. lg 1 -J o i5 21 r l h. f l6 l PATENTEI] JULl3l97| 3,592.401

SHEET 1 OF 2 INVENTORS ASHLEY P 5mm WILUAM L. WILsONanJ RALPH A.CANE-E-I2.

M izzde'glgam ATTORNEYS CHUCKING ASSEMBLY FOR WINDING MACHINES This invention relates to a chucking assembly and more particularly to a chucking assembly for supporting a yarn carricr during the winding of yarn thereon to form a yarn packager Chucking assemblies of the type to which this invention relates are generally used on a winding machine where simul taneous winding of a plurality of yarn packages is being carried out. During the operation of such winding machines, it is important that an operator be capable of attending the winding of a relatively large number of yarn packages. Accordingly, it is necessary that the chucking assemblies be designed such that a yarn carrier may be readily placed in sup porting relation on the chucking assembly for the winding of a yarn package and readily removed or doffed therefrom after the winding of a yarn package without damage to the yarn package.

Many chucking assemblies have heretofore been provided for supporting a yarn carrier during the winding of a yarn package. Typically, these chucking assemblies support a yarn carrier through the use of teeth which normally engage and exert a radially outward pressure against the interior surface of the yarn carrier during winding. When the yarn carrier is formed from paper, the teeth often damage the yarn carrier, thus requiring its replacement. On the other hand, when the carrier is formed from plastics, the teeth do not readily grip the interior surface of the yarn carrier and, thus, do not adequately support the yarn carrier during winding. Furthermore, when the yarn package is to be removed or doffed from the chucking assemblies, the teeth do not always readily contract to release the yarn carrier so that the yarn package may be removed.

Other chucking assemblies previously known employ a retaining head protruding from the front end of a yarn carrier when placed in a chucking position thereon for exerting axial pressure on the yarn carrier to support the yarn carrier during winding of a yarn package. It will be readily apparent that this chucking assembly will only work with a yarn carrier of predetermined length and more importantly, an axial pressure is not as effective as a radial pressure in supporting a yarn carrier during the winding of yarn thereon.

Thus, it is an object of this invention to provide a chucking assembly wherein a yarn carrier formed from paper, plastic or the like may be readily placed thereon in supporting relation for winding a yarn package and readily removed or doffed therefrom without damage to the yarn carrier.

Another object of this invention is to provide a chucking as sembly which supports a yarn carrier through the use of radially expandible fingers which exert a radially outward pressure against the interior surface of the yarn carrier wherein the expandible fingers are positively moved out of engagement with the interior surface of the yarn carrier when the yarn carrier is to be removed or doffed.

By this invention, the above objects are accomplished by providing a chucking assembly for supporting a yarn carrier during the winding of yarn thereon to form a yarn package wherein the chucking assembly includes an elongate shaft, an elongate tubular housing concentrically mounted on the shaft for rotation relative thereto and having a base end, yarn carrier support means carried by and projected radially from adjacent the base end of the housing for supporting the base end of a yarn carrier positioned on the chucking assembly, an elongate tubular chucking slider concentrically mounted on the housing for sliding movement longitudinally thereof and having a plurality of circumferentially spaced cooperating radially expandible chucking fingers disposed away from the base end of the housing. The chucking assembly further includes means for sliding the chucking slider relative to the housing away from the base end of the housing and means for radially expanding the chucking fingers into a chucking condition when the chucking slider is slid away from the base end of the housing, so that the fingers will engage and exert a radial pressure against a yarn carrier on the chucking assembly.

Preferably, the chucking assembly includes means for releasably maintaining the chucking slider toward the base end of the housing in a position with the chucking fingers in an unexpanded, nonchucking condition. This means preferably includes brake means for substantially preventing rotation of said chucking slider when the assembly is in a nonchucking condition. In addition, the chucking assembly preferably in cludes an expandible ring formed of a resilient material having a high coefficient of friction and a diameter substantially equal to the external diameter of the cooperating chucking fingers concentrically disposed on the circumferentially spaced cooperating expandible chucking fingers and being expandible therewith to engage and exert a radial pressure against a yarn carrier positioned on the chucking assembly and normally biasing the chucking fingers into an uncxpanded, nonchucking condition.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objects will appear as the description proceeds, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. I is a perspective view of a chucking assembly constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a reduced exploded view of the chucking assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a reduced side elevational view, with a portion thereof broken away, of the chucking assembly of FIG. I having a yarn carrier disposed thereon as shown in phantom lines and illustrating the chucking assembly in a nonchucking condition;

FIG. 4 is a reduced side elevational view, with a portion thereof broken away, of the chucking assembly of FIG. I having a yarn carrier disposed thereon and illustrating the chucking assembly in a chucking condition; and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

Referring specifically to the various figures wherein like reference characters indicate like parts, there is illustrated in FIG. I a chucking assembly, generally indicated at 10, constructed in accordance with the present invention. The chucking assembly I0 is rigidly fixed to an arm II which is carried by a winding machine frame (not shown). Preferably, arm II is connected to the winding machine frame for pivotal movement of the chucking assembly 10 parallel to a drive roll (not shown) for continuously driving a yarn carrier positioned on the chucking assembly [0 at a constant surface speed so that the yarn being wound will be wound under a uniform ten sion.

The chucking assembly [0 as illustrated in the various figures is designed for supporting a tapered yarn carrier C having a 3 5 l taper. However, since the chucking assembly 10 of the present invention may be designed for supporting any tubular yarn carrier, the chucking assembly will be described in general for supporting any tubular yarn carrier.

The chucking assembly [0 includes an elongate camming member l2 of substantially uniform thickness fixedly connected at one side thereof to arm II. Camming member 12, as illustrated in the various figures, is longer than it is wide and includes a bifurcated portion which communicates between adjacent edges thereof with adjacent edges being joined by an arcuate camming surface I2b. An elongate shaft I3 having a generally circular cross section throughout a greater portion of the length thereof and an end portion I3a of generally rectangular cross section which is pivotally con nected by bolt I4 to camming member I2 with portion 13a disposed in bifurcated portion Ila such that elongate shaft 13 is pivotal between positions substantially perpendicular to adjacent edges of camming member I2.

A cylindrical collar I5 including countersunk opening I6 is concentrically mounted on shaft 13 adjacent end portion with the countersunk portion of opening 16 facing away from camming member 12. Generally, semiannular flange members I7 having axial portions and radially inward extending portions 17b are mounted in superimposed relation concentrirally on collar 15 with the radially inward extending portions 17b spaced from collar 15 as shown best in FIGS. 3 and 4 on the side of collar 15 away from cumming member [2. Any conventional means such as screws l9 (FIG. 1) may be employed in securing flange members 17 to collar [5. It will be apparent that collar 15 and flange members 17 carried thereby are mounted for reciprocating axial movement on shaft 13.

A coil spring 2] having a relatively high compressive strength is concentrically mounted on shaft l3 with one end thereof received in the countersunk portion of opening 16 of collar 15 in abutting relation therewith. The other end abuts a retaining ring 22 which is received in groove 23 on shaft 13 and thus, collar spring 2] biases collar 15 away from retaining ring 22 toward camming member [2. Collar l5 and collar spring 21, as indicated, are mounted adjacent camming member 12 such that when shaft 13 is parallel with the longitudinal axis ofcamming member 12. as illustrated in FIGS. l and 5, collar 15 and the flange members 17 carried thereby will be moved axially of shaft [3 toward retaining ring 22.

An elongate tubular housing 25 is concentrically mounted on shaft l3 by spacedapart bearings 26 which are force-fitted with the interior of housing 25 and retained in place on shaft 13 by spaced-apart retaining rings 27 which are received in spaced-apart grooves 28, respectively, on shaft 134 Housing 25 includes a base end 29 from which a plurality of circumferentially spaced yarn carrier support members 30 project radially outwardly therefrom for supporting the base end of a yarn carrier (positioned on the chucking assembly It]. When a tapered yarn carrier Lis to be supported on the chucking assembly 10, the yarn carrier support members 30 are preferably tapered, as illustrated, with decreasing diameter away from camming member 12 at a rate to coincide with the taper of the tapered yarn carrier to be positioned thereon, The other end 3| of housing 25 includes a portion having a tapered external camming surface 31a arranged so that its diameter increases in the direction away from the base and 29 of housing 25 for reasons soon to become apparent, A slider spring 32 of less compressive strength than collar spring 2l is concentri' cally mounted on the base end 29 of housing 25 in abutting relation to the radially projecting circumfcrentially spaced apart support members 30.

An elongate tubular chucking slider 35 is concentrically mounted on housing 25 and includes portion 36 (FIGS. 3 and 4) extending radially inwardly therefrom in cooperative relationship with the yarn carrier support members 30 and abuts with the other end of slider spring 32. Thus, slider spring 32 connects the housing 25 and chucking slider 35 and biases the chucking slider 35 away from the base end 29 of housing 25. The external diameter of chucking slider 35 is less than that of yarn carrier support members 30 so as to allow a yarn carrier C to be positioned on the chucking assembly 10 with the base end thereof supported by the yarn carrier support members 30. When a tapered yarn carrier C is to be supported on the chucking assembly 10, it will be necessary that the diameter of the chucking slider 35 be commensurate therewith.

The chucking slider 35 includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced cooperating radially expandible chucking fingers 38 which extend axially away from the base end 29 of housing 25 toward the tapered end 31. The internal diameter of the cooperating chucking fingers 38 is less than that of the greatest diameter of tapered portion 31 such that when chucking slider 35 is slid away from the base end 29 of the housing 25 toward the tapered end 31, the plurality of chucking fingers 38 will engage tapered camming surface 310 and be expanded radially to engage and exert a radial pressure against a yarn carrier on the chucking assembly 10.

The chucking slider 35 also includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced feet 40 which are staggered relative to yarn carrier support members 30 and extending axially of chucking slider 35 between and beyond yarn carrier support members 30 as best shown in H05. 1, 3 and 4 and have end portions 41 projecting radially outwardly therefrom. ln mounting the chucking slider 35 on housing 25, the end portions 4l of feet 40 are positioned between radially inwardly extending por tions 17!) of flange members 17 and collar 15 (FIGS. 3 and 4). Slider spring 32 normally biases chucking slider 35 away from the base end 29 of housing 25 so that end portions 4! of feet 40 abut radially inwardprojecting portions 17b of flange members 17 to substantially prevent rotation of chucking slider 35.

Each of the chucking fingers 38 includes a pressure-applying shoulder 42 which extends radially outward therefrom and cooperate for engaging and exerting a radial pressure against a yarn carrier positioned on the chucking assembly 10 when the chucking fingers 38 are radially expanded. it will be noted from the various figures that each of the prcssureapplying shoulders 42 includes a receiving groove 43. An expandible ring 44 formed from a resilient material having a high coefficicnt of friction, such as rubber, and an internal diameter substantially equal to the external diameter of the cooperating chucking fingers 38 is concentrically disposed on the circumferentially spaced cooperating cxpandible chucking fingers 38 in receiving grooves 43. Ring 44 is expandiblc with chucking fingers 38 to engage and exert a radial pressure against a yarn carrier C on the chucking assembly [0 and which, additionally, biases the chucking fingers 38 into an unexpanded condition.

Preferably, the chucking slider 35 is formed from a plastic material having high elastic properties so that in addition to being expandible and resilient for facilitating the chucking ofa yarn carrier C positioned on the chucking assembly 10, the movement of the chucking slider 35 relative to the various parts in contact therewith will not wear the parts and interfere with their continued operation. Finally, a retaining ring 45 is disposed in groove 46 of housing 25 and serves to prevent removal of the various components of the chucking assembly 10 without prior removement of retaining ring 45.

With reference to FlGS, 3 and 4, it will be noted that shaft 13 is pivotable between an uncammed, nonchucking position (FIG. 3) and a cammed, chucking position (FIGv 5). As noted in FIG. 3 in the uncammed, nonchucking position, collar spring Zl biases collar 15 and flange members l'l' carried thereby away from housing 25 toward camming member [2. Collar spring 2] is stronger than slider spring 32 and thus, biases the end portion 4l of feet 40 of chucking slider 35 into abutting relation with radially extending portions 17b of flange members 17 to substantially prevent rotation of chucking slider 35. Furthermore, it will be noted that the chucking fingers 38 are biased in an unexpanded position by expandible ring 44.

However, upon pivoting shaft 13 from the C, nonchucking position to the cammed, chucking position (FIG. 5), collar 15 is engaged by camming surface l2!) and moved axially toward housing 25 to partially collapse collar spring 21 which in turn allows slider spring 32 to slide chucking slider 35 away from the base end 29 of housing 25 toward the tapered end 3! thereof. Chucking fingers 38 abut tapered surface 310 and are expanded which in turn expands expandible ring 44 thereon so that expandible ring 44 engages and exerts a radial pressure against a yarn carrier positioned on the chucking assembly 10. Furthermore, it will be noted that a gap is formed between end portions 41 of feet 40 of chucking slider 35 and radially extending portions 17b of flange members 17. Thus, chucking slider 35 is free to rotate with housing 25 about shaft 13. It is in this position that the winding of a yarn package is carried out. Typically, the drive roll (not shown) is placed parallel and in contact to a yarn carrier on the chucking assembly 10 and rotated about its longitudinal axis which in turn rotates the yarn carrier c, chucking slider 35 and housing 25 relative to shaft I3 for the winding of a yarn package.

To maintain the chucking assembly 10 in the cammed, chucking position (FIG. 5), a substantially circular projection 47 having a generally V-shaped cross section is disposed on the side of collar 15 facing camming member [2A cooperating generally circular recess 48 having a generally V-shaped cross section is disposed on the edge of camming member l2. When the chucking assembly is in the cammed, chucking position, collar spring 2] biases projection 47 into recess 48 to releasably maintain the chucking assembly 10 in the cammed, chucking position during the winding of a yarn package thereon. The chucking assembly 10 is released by pivoting it back to the uncammed, nonchucking position with a force sufficient to overcome the biasing of collar spring 2!.

When a yarn carrier C is to be positioned on the chucking assembly 10, the chucking assembly 10 is positioned in the uncammed, nonchucking position as shown in FIG. 3. In this position it will be noted that collar spring 2| biases collar l5 away from housing 25 toward camming member l2 and causes flange members 17 to abut with end portions 41 of feet 40 of chucking slider 35. The frictional contact therebetween substantially prevents rotation of chucking slider 35. ln addi tion chucking fingers 38 are maintained in an unexpanded position by expandible ring 44. A yarn carrier C, as illustrated in phantom lines in FIG. 3, is positioned on the chucking assembly ll] with the base end thereof being supported by yarn carrier support members 30. The shaft 13 is then pivoted preferably manually while holding yarn carrier C in position on the chucking assembly 10 to the cammed, chucking position, as shown in H6. 4.

ln pivoting the shaft 13, collar 15 engages camming surface l2b and is moved axially toward housing to compress collar spring 2]. Slider spring 32 in turn slides chucking slider 35 away from the base end 29 of housing 25 toward the tapered end 31 whereupon chucking fingers 38 engage tapered surface 310 and are expanded radially to expand expandible ring 44. Expandible ring 44 engages the interior surface of the yarn carrier C and exerts a radial pressure thereon. Since the ex pandible ring 44 is formed ofa resilient material having a high coefficient of friction, the yarn carrier C will be sufficiently supported for the winding of yarn thereon to form a yarn package. It is readily apparent that the yarn carrier C is supported at spaced-apart points by yarn carrier support member and expandible ring 44 in a manner to ensure that it is supported concentric with shaft 13 such that during rotation thereof, yarn carrier C will rotate on a true axial path to uniformly wind 3 yarn package.

As previously indicated, when the chucking assembly 10 is in the uncammed, nonchucking position, rotation of the chucking slider is prevented. However, in the cammed, chucking position, the flange members 17 and end portions 4] of feet of chucking slider 35 are no longer in abutting relation and thus, the chucking slider 35 is free to rotate. The flange members 17 and chucking slider 35 are no longer in abutting relation due to the differential in axial movement of the respective parts in moving the chucking assembly l0 from the uncammed, nonchucking position to the cammed, chucking position. This feature of the present invention becomes extremely important when it is desirable to doff a yarn package from the chucking assembly 10.

Furthermore, when the chucking assembly 10 is in the cammed, chucking position, it will be noted that the chucking assembly [0 is releasably maintained in that position by the cooperation of projection 47 on collar 15 and recess 48 on camming member 12. That is, in the cammed, chucking position projection 47 and recess 48 are aligned and collar spring 2] biases collar 15 toward camming member [2 so that projection 47 is received in recess 48.

When a yarn package is to be doffed, the chucking assembly 10 is moved from the cammed, chucking position to the uncammed, nonchucking position. It will be understood that in so moving the chucking assembly 10 it will be necessary to exert a force sufficient to temporarily overcome collar spring 21 so that projection 47 will be removed from recess 48. In moving the chucking assembly 10 to the uncammed, nonchucking position, collar spring 21 will be allowed to move collar l5 away from housing 25 toward camming member 12 which in turn causes flange members 17 to abut end portions Al nf M: an nfrhimkino slider 35 and slide chucking slider 35 toward the base end 29 of housing 25. In sliding the chucking slider 35 toward the base end 29 of housing 25, the chucking fingers 38 move out of engagement with the tapered surface 3la of housing 25 and thus, are allowed to retract to their unexpanded position. The retraction is ensured by the expandible ring 44 which biases the chucking fingers 38 into an unexpanded position and thus, facilitates the release of yarn carrier C. As indicated, rotation of chucking slider 35 is substantially prevented when the chucking assembly 10 is in the uncammed, nonchucking position. Since the yarn carrier C is still supported on the chucking assembly N] by the yarn carrier support members 30, the yarn package will be prevented from rotating and, accordingly, there will be no problem with the yarn package unwinding prior to is removal from the chucking assembly 10 by the operator.

In the drawings and specification there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.

What we claim is:

l. A chucking assembly for supporting a yarn carrier during the winding of yarn thereon to form a yarn package, said chucking assembly comprising an elongate shaft,

an elongate tubular housing concentrically mounted on said shaft for rotation relative thereto about the longitudinal axis thereof and having a base end,

yarn carrier support means carried by and projecting radially from adjacent the base end of said housing for supporting the base end of a yarn carrier positioned on the chucking assembly, an elongate tubular chucking slider having a plurality of circumferentially spaced cooperating radially expandible chucking fingers, said slider being concentrically mounted on said housing for sliding movement along the longitudinal axis thereof with said chucking fingers disposed away from the base end of said housing, said slider having an external diameter less than that of said yarn carrier support means whereby a yarn carrier may be positioned on the chucking assembly with the base end thereof supported by said yarn carrier support means,

means for sliding said chucking slider relative to said hous ing away from the base end of said housing, and

means for radially expanding said chucking fingers into a chucking condition when said chucking slider is slid away from the base end of said housing so that said fingers will engage and exert a radial pressure against a yarn carrier on the chucking assembly.

2. A chucking assembly, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said means for sliding said chucking slider comprises slider spring means connecting said housing and said chucking slider and biasing said chucking slider away from said base end of said housing.

3. A chucking assembly, as set forth in claim 2, wherein said housing includes spring abutment means extending radially outwardly therefrom and wherein said chucking slider in eludes spring abutment means extending radially inwardly therefrom in cooperative relationship with said housing spring abutment means and wherein said slider spring means comprises a coil spring concentrically mounted on said housing between said spring abutment means of said housing and said chucking slider with opposite ends thereof abutting said abutment means.

4. A chucking assembly, as set forth in claim 2, including means for releasably maintaining said chucking slider toward the base end of said housing in a position with said chucking fingers in an unexpanded, nonchucking condition.

5. A chucking assembly, as set forth in claim 4, wherein said means for releasably maintaining said chucking slider in a nonchucking condition includes brake means for substantially preventing rotation ol'said chucking slider when said chucking slider is ina nonchucking condition.

6, A chucking assembly. as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of said chucking fingers includes a pressure-applying shoulder extending radially outwardly from the slider, said shoulders cooperating for engaging and exerting a radial pressure against a yarn carrier positioned on the chucking as sembly when said chucking fingers are radially expanded.

7, A chucking assembly, as set forth in claim I, including an expandible ring, said ring being concentrically disposed on said circumferentially spaced cooperating expandible chucking fingers and being expandible therewith to engage and exert a radial pressure against a yarn carrier on the chucking assembly.

8. A chucking assembly, as set forth in claim 7, wherein said ring is formed from a resilient material having a high coefficient of friction.

9. A chucking assembly, as set forth in claim 7, wherein said expandible ring has an internal diameter substantially equal to the external diameter of said cooperating chucking fingers for biasing said chucking fingers into an unexpanded, nonchucking condition and thus facilitating the release of a yarn carrier by said chucking fingers.

10. A chucking assembly, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said yarn carrier support means are tapered for supporting the base end of a tapered yarn carrier on the chucking assembly H. A chucking assembly, as set forth in claim 1, including spaced'apart bearing means mounting said housing for rotation relative to said shaft.

12. A chucking assembly for supporting a yarn carrier during the winding of yarn thereon to form a yarn package, said chucking assembly comprising an elongate shaft,

an elongate tubular housing concentrically mounted on said shaft for rotation relative thereto about the longitudinal axis thereof and having a base end,

yarn carrier support means carried by and projecting radially from adjacent the base end of said housing for sup porting the base end of a yarn carrier positioned on the chucking assembly,

an elongate tubular chucking slider concentrically mounted on said housing for sliding movement along the lngitudinal axis thereof, said slider having an external diameter less than that of said yarn carrier support means whereby a yarn carrier may be positioned on the chucking assembly with the base end thereof supported by said yarn carrier support means, said slider including a plurality of circumferentially spaced cooperating radially expandible chucking fingers extending away from the base end of said housing, said slider also including a plurality of cir cumferentially spaced feet means extending axially of said slider through and beyond said yarn carrier support means and having end portions projecting radially therefrom,

slider spring means connecting said housing and said chucking slider and biasing said chucking slider away from the base end of said housing,

means for radially expanding said chucking fingers into a chucking condition when said chucking slider is slid away from the base end of said housing so that said fingers will engage and exert a radial pressure against a yarn carrier on the chucking assembly,

a collar concentrically mounted for reciprocating axial movement on said shaft adjacent the base end of said housing,

flange means carried by said collar and receiving said radially projecting portions of said feet means therein,

spring means mounted on said shaft and biasing said collar and said flange means carried thereby away form said housing, said spring means causing said flange means to abut with said radially projecting portions for maintaining said slider toward the base end of said housing, the fric tional contact between said radially projecting portions and said flange means substantially preventing rotation of said chucking slider, and

means for reciprocating said collar axially toward said hous ing against said last-named spring means to release said radially projecting portions from said flange means whereby said slider is free to rotate with said housing and whereby said slider spring means will slide said slider away from the base end of said housing so that said chucking fingers will be expanded to engage and exert a radial pressure against a yarn carrier on the chucking assembly.

13. A chucking assembly, as set forth in claim 12, wherein said yarn carrier support means comprises circumferentially spaced support members and wherein said circumfercntially spaced feet means of said chucking slider are staggered relative to said yarn carrier support members and extend axially of said slider between said yarn carrier support members.

[4, A chucking assembly, as set forth in claim l2, wherein said means for reciprocating said collar axially of said shaft comprises a camming member, said shaft being pivotally connected to said camming member adjacent said collar for movement between a nonchucking position and a chucking position, said collar being engaged by said camming member when said shaft is pivoted into chucking position and axially moved toward said housing against said collar spring means to allow said slider spring means to move said slider away from the base end of said housing.

15. A chucking assembly, as set forth in claim 14, including means for releasably maintaining said shaft in the cammed, chucking position whereby the chucking assembly may be maintained in a chucking condition during the winding ofyarn on a yarn carrier supported thereby.

16. A chucking assembly, as set forth in claim 15, wherein said means for releasably maintaining said shaft in the cammed, chucking position comprises a projection disposed on one of said collar and camming member, and

a recess disposed on the other of said collar and camming member and cooperating with said projection when said shaft is in the cammed, chucking position, said projection being biased in said recess by said collar spring means when said shaft is in the cammed position.

17. A chucking assembly, as set forth in claim 12, wherein said shaft includes retaining means concentrically disposed thereon adjacent said housing and wherein said collar spring means comprises a coil spring concentrically mounted on said shaft between said collar and said retaining means.

18, A chucking assembly for supporting a yarn carrier during the winding of yarn thereon to form a yarn package, said chucking assembly comprising an elongate shaft,

an elongate tubular housing concentrically mounted on said shaft for rotation relative thereto about the longitudinal axis thereof, said housing having a base end and the other end having a tapered external surface arranged so that its diameter increases in the direction away from the base end,

a plurality of circumferentially spaced yam carrier support members carried by and projecting radially from adjacent the base end of said housing for supporting the base end of a yarn carrier positioned on the chucking assembly,

an elongate tubular chucking slider concentrically mounted on said housing for sliding movement along the longitudinal axis thereof, said slider having an external diameter less than that of said yarn carrier support members whereby a yarn carrier may be positioned on the chucking assembly with the base end thereof supported by said yarn carrier support members, said slider including a plurality of circumferentially spaced cooperating radially expandible chucking fingers extending away from the base end of said housing toward the tapered end thereof and being expanded by the tapered end of said housing upon said chucking slider sliding away from the base end of said housing to engage and exert a radial pressure against a yarn carrier on the chucking assembly, said chucking slider also including a plurality of circumferentially spaced feet staggered relative to said yarn carrier support members and extending axially of said slider between and through said yarn carrier support members and having end portions projecting radially therefrom,

slider spring means disposed between said housing and slider and biasing said slider away from the base end of said housing toward the tapered end thereof,

collar concentrically mounted for reciprocating axial movement on said shaft adjacent the base end of said housing and including flange means carried by said collar and receiving said radially projecting portions of said l'eet therein,

spring means mounted on said shaft and biasing said collar and said flange means away from said housing, said collar means for reciprocating said collar axially toward said housing against said collar spring means to release said radially projecting means from said flange means whereby said slider is free to rotate with said housing and said slider spring means will slide said slider away from the base end of said housing so that said chucking fingers will be expanded to engage and exert a radial pressure against a yarn carrier on the chucking assembly.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 401 Dated July 13, 1971 Inventor(s) Ashley P. Smith, William L. Wilson and Ralph A. Caneer It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

(The numerals applied to the lines of the patent do not correspond to the actual lines, and the following corrections refer to the actual numbered lines) The word "expandible" should be deleted in the following places and insert therefor -expandable-: Column 1, lines 47, 49 and 64; Column 2, lines 8 and 12; Column 3, line 58; Column 4, lines 15, 21, 28, 47, 56 and 57; Column 5, lines 18, 30, 31, 33 and 38; Column 6, lines 6 and 33; Column 7, lines 8, 9, 10, 17 and 46; Column 8, line 68.

Column 4, line 49, delete "C and insert therefor --uncammed-; line 67, delete "c" and insert therefor -C-.

Signed and sealed this 27th day of June I972.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3 592 401 Dated July 1 3, 1971 Inventor) Ashley P Smith et a1 It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected es shown below:

Column 10, line 9, "means", first occurrence, should read portions Signed and sealed this 5th day of December 1972.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents M P0-105O [IO-69) USCOMM-DC 50376-P69 ll 5 GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICZ I), 0-)6'33 

1. A chucking assembly for supporting a yarn carrier during the winding of yarn thereon to form a yarn package, saiD chucking assembly comprising an elongate shaft, an elongate tubular housing concentrically mounted on said shaft for rotation relative thereto about the longitudinal axis thereof and having a base end, yarn carrier support means carried by and projecting radially from adjacent the base end of said housing for supporting the base end of a yarn carrier positioned on the chucking assembly, an elongate tubular chucking slider having a plurality of circumferentially spaced cooperating radially expandible chucking fingers, said slider being concentrically mounted on said housing for sliding movement along the longitudinal axis thereof with said chucking fingers disposed away from the base end of said housing, said slider having an external diameter less than that of said yarn carrier support means whereby a yarn carrier may be positioned on the chucking assembly with the base end thereof supported by said yarn carrier support means, means for sliding said chucking slider relative to said housing away from the base end of said housing, and means for radially expanding said chucking fingers into a chucking condition when said chucking slider is slid away from the base end of said housing so that said fingers will engage and exert a radial pressure against a yarn carrier on the chucking assembly.
 2. A chucking assembly, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said means for sliding said chucking slider comprises slider spring means connecting said housing and said chucking slider and biasing said chucking slider away from said base end of said housing.
 3. A chucking assembly, as set forth in claim 2, wherein said housing includes spring abutment means extending radially outwardly therefrom and wherein said chucking slider includes spring abutment means extending radially inwardly therefrom in cooperative relationship with said housing spring abutment means and wherein said slider spring means comprises a coil spring concentrically mounted on said housing between said spring abutment means of said housing and said chucking slider with opposite ends thereof abutting said abutment means.
 4. A chucking assembly, as set forth in claim 2, including means for releasably maintaining said chucking slider toward the base end of said housing in a position with said chucking fingers in an unexpanded, nonchucking condition.
 5. A chucking assembly, as set forth in claim 4, wherein said means for releasably maintaining said chucking slider in a nonchucking condition includes brake means for substantially preventing rotation of said chucking slider when said chucking slider is in a nonchucking condition.
 6. A chucking assembly, as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of said chucking fingers includes a pressure-applying shoulder extending radially outwardly from the slider, said shoulders cooperating for engaging and exerting a radial pressure against a yarn carrier positioned on the chucking assembly when said chucking fingers are radially expanded.
 7. A chucking assembly, as set forth in claim 1, including an expandible ring, said ring being concentrically disposed on said circumferentially spaced cooperating expandible chucking fingers and being expandible therewith to engage and exert a radial pressure against a yarn carrier on the chucking assembly.
 8. A chucking assembly, as set forth in claim 7, wherein said ring is formed from a resilient material having a high coefficient of friction.
 9. A chucking assembly, as set forth in claim 7, wherein said expandible ring has an internal diameter substantially equal to the external diameter of said cooperating chucking fingers for biasing said chucking fingers into an unexpanded, nonchucking condition and thus facilitating the release of a yarn carrier by said chucking fingers.
 10. A chucking assembly, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said yarn carrier support means are tapered for supporting the base end of a tapered yarn carrier on the chucking assembly.
 11. A chucking assembly, as sEt forth in claim 1, including spaced-apart bearing means mounting said housing for rotation relative to said shaft.
 12. A chucking assembly for supporting a yarn carrier during the winding of yarn thereon to form a yarn package, said chucking assembly comprising an elongate shaft, an elongate tubular housing concentrically mounted on said shaft for rotation relative thereto about the longitudinal axis thereof and having a base end, yarn carrier support means carried by and projecting radially from adjacent the base end of said housing for supporting the base end of a yarn carrier positioned on the chucking assembly, an elongate tubular chucking slider concentrically mounted on said housing for sliding movement along the longitudinal axis thereof, said slider having an external diameter less than that of said yarn carrier support means whereby a yarn carrier may be positioned on the chucking assembly with the base end thereof supported by said yarn carrier support means, said slider including a plurality of circumferentially spaced cooperating radially expandible chucking fingers extending away from the base end of said housing, said slider also including a plurality of circumferentially spaced feet means extending axially of said slider through and beyond said yarn carrier support means and having end portions projecting radially therefrom, slider spring means connecting said housing and said chucking slider and biasing said chucking slider away from the base end of said housing, means for radially expanding said chucking fingers into a chucking condition when said chucking slider is slid away from the base end of said housing so that said fingers will engage and exert a radial pressure against a yarn carrier on the chucking assembly, a collar concentrically mounted for reciprocating axial movement on said shaft adjacent the base end of said housing, flange means carried by said collar and receiving said radially projecting portions of said feet means therein, spring means mounted on said shaft and biasing said collar and said flange means carried thereby away form said housing, said spring means causing said flange means to abut with said radially projecting portions for maintaining said slider toward the base end of said housing, the frictional contact between said radially projecting portions and said flange means substantially preventing rotation of said chucking slider, and means for reciprocating said collar axially toward said housing against said last-named spring means to release said radially projecting portions from said flange means whereby said slider is free to rotate with said housing and whereby said slider spring means will slide said slider away from the base end of said housing so that said chucking fingers will be expanded to engage and exert a radial pressure against a yarn carrier on the chucking assembly.
 13. A chucking assembly, as set forth in claim 12, wherein said yarn carrier support means comprises circumferentially spaced support members and wherein said circumferentially spaced feet means of said chucking slider are staggered relative to said yarn carrier support members and extend axially of said slider between said yarn carrier support members.
 14. A chucking assembly, as set forth in claim 12, wherein said means for reciprocating said collar axially of said shaft comprises a camming member, said shaft being pivotally connected to said camming member adjacent said collar for movement between a nonchucking position and a chucking position, said collar being engaged by said camming member when said shaft is pivoted into chucking position and axially moved toward said housing against said collar spring means to allow said slider spring means to move said slider away from the base end of said housing.
 15. A chucking assembly, as set forth in claim 14, including means for releasably maintaining said shaft in the cammed, chucking position whereby the chucking assembly may be mainTained in a chucking condition during the winding of yarn on a yarn carrier supported thereby.
 16. A chucking assembly, as set forth in claim 15, wherein said means for releasably maintaining said shaft in the cammed, chucking position comprises a projection disposed on one of said collar and camming member, and a recess disposed on the other of said collar and camming member and cooperating with said projection when said shaft is in the cammed, chucking position, said projection being biased in said recess by said collar spring means when said shaft is in the cammed position.
 17. A chucking assembly, as set forth in claim 12, wherein said shaft includes retaining means concentrically disposed thereon adjacent said housing and wherein said collar spring means comprises a coil spring concentrically mounted on said shaft between said collar and said retaining means.
 18. A chucking assembly for supporting a yarn carrier during the winding of yarn thereon to form a yarn package, said chucking assembly comprising an elongate shaft, an elongate tubular housing concentrically mounted on said shaft for rotation relative thereto about the longitudinal axis thereof, said housing having a base end and the other end having a tapered external surface arranged so that its diameter increases in the direction away from the base end, a plurality of circumferentially spaced yarn carrier support members carried by and projecting radially from adjacent the base end of said housing for supporting the base end of a yarn carrier positioned on the chucking assembly, an elongate tubular chucking slider concentrically mounted on said housing for sliding movement along the longitudinal axis thereof, said slider having an external diameter less than that of said yarn carrier support members whereby a yarn carrier may be positioned on the chucking assembly with the base end thereof supported by said yarn carrier support members, said slider including a plurality of circumferentially spaced cooperating radially expandible chucking fingers extending away from the base end of said housing toward the tapered end thereof and being expanded by the tapered end of said housing upon said chucking slider sliding away from the base end of said housing to engage and exert a radial pressure against a yarn carrier on the chucking assembly, said chucking slider also including a plurality of circumferentially spaced feet staggered relative to said yarn carrier support members and extending axially of said slider between and through said yarn carrier support members and having end portions projecting radially therefrom, slider spring means disposed between said housing and slider and biasing said slider away from the base end of said housing toward the tapered end thereof, a collar concentrically mounted for reciprocating axial movement on said shaft adjacent the base end of said housing and including flange means carried by said collar and receiving said radially projecting portions of said feet therein, spring means mounted on said shaft and biasing said collar and said flange means away from said housing, said collar spring means causing said flange means to abut with said radially projecting portions for maintaining said slider toward the base end of said housing and the frictional contact between said radially projecting portions and flange means substantially preventing rotation of said chucking slider, and means for reciprocating said collar axially toward said housing against said collar spring means to release said radially projecting means from said flange means whereby said slider is free to rotate with said housing and said slider spring means will slide said slider away from the base end of said housing so that said chucking fingers will be expanded to engage and exert a radial pressure against a yarn carrier on the chucking assembly. 